Where to celebrate July's food holidays in Flagstaff

Right in the heat of the summer comes a variety of food holidays with such varied tastes. July is National baked Bean Month, Bison Month, Culinary Arts Month, Grilling Month, Hot Dog Month and Ice Cream Month. It’s also home to the following food holidays…

July 6: National Fried Chicken Day

Get some finger lickin in on Fried Chicken Day at Louie’s Chicken Shack (2116 E Rte 66). They made their own unique batter that makes for juicy chicken strips. Mmm mmm good.

July 9: National Sugar Cookie Day

Sugar Mama’s (116 S San Francisco) has your sugar cookie fix for today. They make a mean sugar cookie with royal icing. Perfect for an afternoon snack break along with a cup of coffee to really get your energy levels going.

July 10: National Pina Colada Day

If you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain, this day falls at the perfect time for Arizona residents, usually in monsoon season this time of the year. Refresh as you watch the rain sprinkle down from the patio at Picazzo’s (1300 South Milton) with a tropical tasty pina colada in hand. They’re not technically on the menu there, but you can order one anyway made with their organic liquor.

July 13: National French Fries Day

Without any hesitation whatsoever, head to the best spot in Flag for fries: Diablo Burger (120 N Leroux St). Theirs are scrumptiously cooked and tossed with Herbs de Provence for the perfect aromatic presentation for your nose, mouth and tummy.

July 20: National Hot Dog Day, National Ice Cream Soda Day and Fortune Cookie Day

Hope you’re hungry today with all these food holidays. Start off with a plump juicy dog with your favorite condiments from Primo’s (113 S San Francisco). Then head over to the Galaxy Diner (931 W Rte 66) for an old fashioned Ice Cream Soda (Go for the Brown Cow). For dinner, get your Chinese on at Golden Dragon (2730 East Lakin Drive) and finish up your meal with a fortune cookie.

July 24: National Tequila Day
With over two dozen tequilas in house, Plaza Bonita (1551 South Milton) is the place to go for a tequila taste testing party tonight. Whether you’re looking for silver, reposado, anejo or gold, they have the full spectrum of price points for all tequila lovers to enjoy including top shelf favorites like Don Julio, Tres Generaciones and others.

July 27: National Crème Brulee Day
Celebrate this sweet holidays with a desert stopover at Jospehine’s (503 North Humphreys). They make some of the best crème brulee around. Their creamy sweet cup of heaven tastes even better with a cup of coffee out under the stars on their relaxing patio.

July 24: National Lasagna Day

Celebrate lasagna day a little early and head to Frank’s Daily Bread (1490 Riordan Ranch Rd) on Wednesdays when lasagna with meat sauce is the lunch special of the day. For $7 you get a big slice of lasagna, side salad, garlic bread and a drink. It’s the only day lasagna is available there.

July 30: National Cheesecake Day

Beautiful Leaf Bakery (2028 North 4th Street) makes over a dozen varieties of cheesecake from their most popular traditional and strawberry cheesecakes to unique blends like Black Forest, Peanut Butter, Mint Chocolate, Lemon, German Chocolate, White Chocolate Raspberry, and many others. Plus, they’ll make any other flavor you desire. All are available in 3-9” sizes.

Check out more food holidays happening in July from TheNibble.com.

(Note: This article was written, also by me, for Flagstaff Live!)

Where to celebrate April food holidays in Flagstaff

Pasto's Portabella & Eggplant Fries

Did you know April is national grilled cheese month. A whole month dedicated to this comfort food that can be so very different, depending on how deluxe you make it – that’s awesome! This month is also national soy foods month, soft pretzel month and garlic month. Now let’s take a look at the more food holidays and where to celebrate them in Flagstaff…

April 12: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day – So not only is this the month of grilled cheese, but April 12 is also the official grilled cheese eating day of the year. That means you have to head to Diablo Burger (120 N Leroux St # 112) and try their Uncle Dee’s grilled cheese done right with three cheeses, pesto, grilled tomato, fresh basil and a fried egg, if you so desire. And they come with those scrumptious DB fries!

April 16: National Eggs Benedict Day – This day calls for going to none other than La Bellavia (18 S. Beaver St). They have more than a dozen types of eggs benedict. Here they serve up eggs poached on an English muffin topped with hollandaise sauce plus a pancake or country potatoes (hard choice!) with all sorts of toppings choices from avocados to artichokes to Canadian bacon and so much more.

April 16: Day of the Mushroom – Right in the middle of the month is a day devoted to mushrooms. They’re so versatile and so good. If you too love mushrooms, check out Beaver Street’s (11 S Beaver St) juicy rustic portabella sandwich, Pasto’s (19 E. Aspen) light and airy portabella and eggplant fries served with a balsamic butter sauce, Cuvee 928’s (6 E. Aspen Ave) baked mushrooms with farmer’s cheese, truffle oil and grilled bread, and Salsa Brava’s (2220 East Route 66 ) grilled portabella fajitas and portabella and spinach enchiladas.

April 22: Earth Day – It’s Earth Day, so respect the earth and its offerings and head to Picazzos (1300 S. Milton Rd) where you can get organic cocktails, organic salads, organic pastas, and even organic pizzas. They serve local and sustainable foods, use recycled stuff as well as recycling stuff. Perfect for celebrating the Earth!

April 22: National Jelly Bean Day – If you need a reason to get on FourSquare on your smart phone, national jelly bean day is it because Brookside Chocolate (120 N Leroux, Suite 103) gives everyone who checks into their shop on FourSquare a free ¼ pound of Jelly Bellys, no purchase necessary. How awesome is that!

April 24: Easter – Okay, not an official food holiday, but you can celebrate with a fine burnch buffet in Little America’s ballroom (2515 East Butler). They’re having roasted prime rib, honey glazed ham, a chocolate fountain and much more.

April 26: National Pretzel Day – This day demands a trip over to Wildflower Bread Company (530 East Piccadilly Drive) for their homemade pretzels. They’re delish!

April 29: National Shrimp Scampi Day – Check out Horsemen Lodge (8500 Highway 89 North) for this food holiday. They have deluxe shrimp scampi sautéed traditionally with fresh garlic and herbs in a white wine butter sauce. (And you can even find a coupon for 20% off on their website: horsemenlodge.com).

For more food holidays this month, check out TheNibble.com.

This article was written by me orginally for Flagstaff Live!

Where to find some good cocktails in Flagstaff

There are so many places in Flagstaff to kick back and liven your spirits. Here’s a look at some sweet spots, many of which are close together so you can enjoy them on a walking tour of the downtown area and avoid having to drive anywhere.

Picazzo's Organic Italian Kitchen
1300 S Milton
What’s not to love on the drink menu at Picazzos, especially during their awesome happy hour when their organic cocktails (and apps) are half off! That’s a reason to celebrate right there. The drinks are made with organic ingredients – from the liquor to the fruit – and they taste goooood. I particularly have enjoyed the Watermelon Mint Mojito with silver rum, lime juice, watermelon and mint leaves and the Raspberry Lavender Limonade with big juicy raspberries and a delightful lavender lemonade vodka. The floral bouquet comes alive in your mouth. Another popular option- the Ginger’s Hot with Corazon Reposado Tequila, fresh ginger, agave nectar, lime juice and the kicker –fresh jalapeños. If a spicy twist is what you’re after, consider the Mango Tango with honey mango vodka, mango puree, lime juice and jalapeños. This one is for anyone who enjoys a mango salsa. The taste buds get the sweet and the throat gets the afterburn. The menu goes on and on with interesting concoctions, which is just what summer is calling for.

Tinderbox Kitchen
34 S San Francisco
Dust and delays on San Francisco adding to frustration? Pull over, cool off and chill out with a Shandy or two from Tinderbox. Traditionally a shandy is a mix of ale and lemonade (I fell in love with the shandy at the famous Hoffbrauhaus in Germany. Delightful!) TBox’s Shandy puts a twist on traditional, as per their norm, instead serving up 4 Peaks Sunbru with fresh lemon juice and a shot of Tru Organic Vodka. Good stuff to make those construction pains fade away.

Salsa Brava
2220 East Route 66
Salsa Brava has a large selection of margaritas to meet your desires. Many come in regular and super grande sizes for those days you need a little extra relaxation. Among the choices you’ve got your traditional house specialty Salsa Brava Margarita with or without fruit. Or try the Agavero Cadillac made with Hornitos Reposado and Agavero Tequila, which is made with a flower known to be an aphrodisiac. They also have several mojitos from the classic to peach, mango, raspberry and strawberry options. Of course, one of their Pina Coladas will also go a long way to help you chill on a hot summer day. And not to be left out, the house made Sangria crafted the traditional way with burgundy, citrus fruit, and brandy.

Criollo Latin Kitchen
16 N San Francisco
Making a name for themselves on the happy hour circuit is Criollo with their sangrias and margaritas a plenty. These margs are particularly addicting, so make sure someone else is driving. You’re going to want to keep ordering them and there’s no skimping on “the goods.” They don’t even have a blender I’m told, so don’t ask for a frozen one. Their red sangria is smooth, tangy and goes down fast. All signs point to excellent bartenders.

Lumberyard Brewing Company
5 S San Francisco
While you’re probably tempted to go for a good ol beer to beat the heat at the Lumberyard, seeing that it is a brewing company and all… consider the refreshing change of the unique white sangria instead. This house made concoction features white wine with red grapes, lemon slices and a splash of apple juice. They also offer a twist on a traditional sangria sans brandy but instead has blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and a splash of lemon-lime soda.

Altitudes Bar and Grill
2 S Beaver
Sit back and relax on the patio at Altitudes and catch a summer breeze while sipping on one of their popular cocktails. Ones to try… Coconino Lemonade with Bacardi, razz rum and fresh squeezed lemonade and the Orange Crush with vodka, triple sec, freshly squeeze orange juice and a splash of Sierra Mist.

Where to find good summer cocktails in Flagstaff, Arizona

What would summer be without a refreshing cocktail to help relax in the shade and beat the heat? There are so many places in town to kick back and liven your spirits. Here’s a look at some sweet spots, many of which are close together so you can enjoy them on a walking tour of the downtown area and avoid having to drive anywhere.

Picazzos Organic Italian Kitchen
1300 S Milton
What’s not to love on the drink menu at Picazzos, especially during their awesome happy hour when their organic cocktails (and apps) are half off! That’s a reason to celebrate right there. The drinks are made with organic ingredients – from the liquor to the fruit – and they taste goooood. I particularly have enjoyed the Watermelon Mint Mojito with silver rum, lime juice, watermelon and mint leaves and the Raspberry Lavender Limonade with big juicy raspberries and a delightful lavender lemonade vodka. The floral bouquet comes alive in your mouth. Another popular option- the Ginger’s Hot with Corazon Reposado Tequila, fresh ginger, agave nectar, lime juice and the kicker –fresh jalapeños. If a spicy twist is what you’re after, consider the Mango Tango with honey mango vodka, mango puree, lime juice and jalapeños. This one is for anyone who enjoys a mango salsa. The taste buds get the sweet and the throat gets the afterburn. The menu goes on and on with interesting concoctions, which is just what summer is calling for.

Tinderbox Kitchen
34 S San Francisco
Dust and delays on San Francisco adding to your summer heat frustration? Pull over, cool off and chill out with a Shandy or two from Tinderbox. Until that construction is completed, they’re serving up these bad boys “two for one.” Traditionally a shandy is a mix of ale and lemonade (I fell in love with the shandy at the famous Hoffbrauhaus in Germany. Delightful!) TBox’s Shandy puts a twist on traditional, as per their norm, instead serving up 4 Peaks Sunbru with fresh lemon juice and a shot of Tru Organic Vodka. Good stuff to make those construction pains fade away.

Salsa Brava
2220 East Route 66
Salsa Brava has a large selection of margaritas to meet your desires. Many come in regular and super grande sizes for those days you need a little extra relaxation. Among the choices you’ve got your traditional house specialty Salsa Brava Margarita with or without fruit. Or try the Agavero Cadillac made with Hornitos Reposado and Agavero Tequila, which is made with a flower known to be an aphrodisiac. They also have several mojitos from the classic to peach, mango, raspberry and strawberry options. Of course, one of their Pina Coladas will also go a long way to help you chill on a hot summer day. And not to be left out, the house made Sangria crafted the traditional way with burgundy, citrus fruit, and brandy.

Criollo Latin Kitchen
16 N San Francisco
Making a name for themselves on the happy hour circuit is Criollo with their sangrias and margaritas a plenty. These margs are particularly addicting, so make sure someone else is driving. You’re going to want to keep ordering them and there’s no skimping on “the goods.” They don’t even have a blender I’m told, so don’t ask for a frozen one. Their red sangria is smooth, tangy and goes down fast. All signs point to excellent bartenders.


Lumberyard Brewing Company
5 S San Francisco
While you’re probably tempted to go for a good ol beer to beat the heat at the Lumberyard, seeing that it is a brewing company and all… consider the refreshing change of the unique white sangria instead. This house made concoction features white wine with red grapes, lemon slices and a splash of apple juice. They also offer a twist on a traditional sangria sans brandy but instead has blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and a splash of lemon-lime soda.

Altitudes Bar and Grill
2 S Beaver
Sit back and relax on the patio at Altitudes and catch a summer breeze while sipping on one of their popular cocktails. Ones to try… Coconino Lemonade with Bacardi, razz rum and fresh squeezed lemonade and the Orange Crush with vodka, triple sec, freshly squeeze orange juice and a splash of Sierra Mist.

You can also find good mojitos at Rendezvous and good margaritas on the rocks at Cafe Ole.


**This article was originally written by me for Flagstaff Live!*